How do I speak?

Continue Reading...

Tama Kieves at CSL-Seattle

Coming soon to the Center for Spiritual Living, Santa Rosa

Continue Reading...

In Search of Maria

I know it's an old one, and been around a while, but I can't help smiling when I see this.

"More than 200 dancers were performing their version of "Do Re Mi", in the Central Station of Antwerp. with just 2 rehearsals they created this amazing stunt!"


With security threat level in our country, I don't imagine such an impromptu performance would be possible.  Sometimes the rediculous can releave pressure, and that's what it did for me when I imagined TSA staff managing a spontaneous combustion of Maria's and Do Re Mi.  Don't get me wrong, I definitely am not recommending it, I'm just being idle and imaging the rediculous.  It makes me think of the spell Harry Potter learns to cast to disarm the frigtening.  Remember?

Continue Reading...

From Sylvia Saxon

When I was young, I grew up believing that the only reason I had any "worthiness" at all was because "Jesus died for me.” My own "righteousness, was as filthy rags." I never really got why, but I didn't spend a lot of time trying to figure it out. Guilt and fear were the great motivators. I can remember every night my siblings and I would shout our good nights through the house "Walton style" with the added and never forgotten, "I'm sorry if I made you mad today," you know, just in case we died before we woke. We believed that if we died with any "un-confessed sin on the books", we would go straight to hell!

As I grew up, I did my share of questioning and finally, as an adult was able to move away from the fear based religion of my childhood. The idea of loving "God first, others second and yourself (you filthy sinner) last" stopped making sense. When I studied for my Masters in psychology, the focus was on the importance of self-actualization --of self-worth, both for ourselves and our future clients, with an emphasis on the idea that one must first love one's self to successfully love another. I welcomed this idea, particularly given the other extreme that I grew up with.

So--for years I went to therapists and workshops and astrologers--spoke affirmations and meditated, with the purpose being, to achieve self-esteem, self-actualization, self-love and self-worth…convinced that surely if I learned to love myself I would be successful in loving another…and when "the relationship" failed (again!), I would think-- it must be because I don't love myself enough yet.

Recently, for no particular reason, I spontaneously got up, of a Sunday morning, and went to our local "new age" church. (The speaker, was using a book that I later found was written by Ecknar Easwaren in which he describes his 8-point way.) He had the nerve to call into question the whole idea that I must love myself BEFORE I can successfully love another, proposing that if we all wait until we fully love our self before loving another, not many people would love or be loved! This idea resonated in a place of truth for me and filled up a lot of my thoughts for sometime thereafter.

Certainly this is not about going back to a "God first, others second, yourself last" mentality. It is for me rather about the idea that when Love moves between two people, the experience of both Self-love AND Loving the Other is amplified. It’s not that loving oneself OR another, need happen "first", but rather both manifesting more fuller in the presence of the other…

This is also, NOT about "giving myself away" or waiting for the approval of others to feel good about myself. Rather, the love I feel for my child, my lover, my friend, is a reflection of love for myself and my love for myself is a reflection of the love I experience for others. When the love energy is reflected back and forth I believe it is increased…

Perhaps if I were a more fully "realized" and enlightened human being, I would simply "choose" to love myself and that would make it true all the time, whether love from others was a part of my life or not, but I am not an enlightened being and therefore, I still grapple with it everyday. This is my process. But I am also not at all sure that complete self- love—self-reliance is the goal. As human beings we are meant to relate, meaning, be in relationship with one another.

A dear friend said to me once, "If we are serving as mirrors for one another, then we can feel good about who we are because you help me see the good parts of me…" This, I believe, is a glimpse of Divine Love.

Continue Reading...

Sri Lakshmi

Sanskrit word Deepavali means an row of lights that stands for victory of brightness over darkness.

Diwali is considered the national festival of India.

Diwali signifies the renewal of life. Homes are thoroughly cleaned on Diwali.

In north India, Diwali celebrates Rama's return from fourteen years of exile to Ayodhya after the defeat of Ravana. It is celebrated with the pooja of goddess Laxmi.

In South India, Diwali commemorates the victory of the divine over the mundane.

For Jains, Diwali marks the attainment of Moksha by the Lord Mahavira.

In Nepal Diwali commemorates the victory of Lord Krishna over the demon king Narakaasura

In Bengal, it is celebrated with the pooja of goddess Kali.
Sikh celebrates Diwali as the day when their sixth Guru, Guru Har Govind ji came back from the captivity of the fort of Gwalior city. It is beleived that the foundation stone of the Golden Temple at Amritsar was laid on Diwali in 1577.

Govardhan Puja is celebrated the day after Diwali. It is the day Lord Krishna defeated Indra.

Diwali is not only festival of lights, but also marks the beginning of the Hindu new year. (from indif.com)

Continue Reading...

Alexander Pope

“Order is Heaven's first law; and this confessed, some are, and must be, greater than the rest, more rich, more wise; but who infers from hence that such are happier, shocks all common sense. Condition, circumstance, is not the thing; bliss is the same in subject or in king.”

Need a translation?

Continue Reading...

1924 Snow Vehicle

A Detroit automobile maker organized a company entitled "Snow Motors Inc.," to produce a snow machine which will negotiate the deep snowdrifts at six to eight miles an hour. Apparently the new vehicle consisted of a Ford tractor power-plant mounted on two revolving cylinders instead of wheels. I would want one, but we have no snow. Bummer.

Continue Reading...

O virtus Sapientiae - Hildegard von Bingen

Latin text
O virtus Sapientiae,
quae circuiens circuisti
comprehendendo omnia
in una via, quae habet vitam,
tres alas habens,
quarum una in altum volat,
et altera de terra sudat,
et tertia undique volat.
Laus tibi sit, sicut te decet,
O Sapientia.

HILDEGARD OF BINGEN: A Saint for Our Times: Unleashing Her Power in the 21st Century

Hildegard von Bingen's Physica: The Complete English Translation of Her Classic Work on Health and Healing 

Selected Writings: Hildegard of Bingen (Penguin Classics) 

Hildegard of Bingen's Medicine (Folk Wisdom Series)  

English translation
O strength of Wisdom
who, circling, circled,
enclosing all
in one lifegiving path,
three wings you have:
one soars to the heights,
one distils its essence upon the earth,
and the third is everywhere.
Praise to you, as is fitting,
O Wisdom.

For Hildegard's Mystical Visions and Music:

http://edblogword.blogspot.com/2010/12/hildegard-von-bingen-mystical-visions.html

Samples of modern recordings of Hildegard's music here

Continue Reading...

Peace Poles Around the World

Peace Poles Around the WorldPeace Poles can be found in town squares, city halls, schools, places of worship, parks, and gardens - any place where the spirit of Peace is embraced by people of good will. Since the beginning of the project over 200,000 Peace Poles have been planted in over 200 countries around the world.

Some of the extraordinary locations include the Pyramids of El Giza in Egypt, the Magnetic North Pole in Canada, Gorky Park in Russia, and Angkor Wat in Cambodia. They are promoting healing of conflict in places like Sarajevo, the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima, and the Allenby Bridge on the border between Israel and Jordan.

Mayors in many parts of the world have planted Peace Poles to dedicate their cities and towns to world Peace. Both political leaders, such as former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, and religious leaders, such as Pope John Paul II, Mother Teresa and the Dalia Lama, have dedicated Peace Poles.

From http://www.peacepoles.com/

Featured in the photograph: Teens from the Center for Spiritual Living, Santa Rosa

Continue Reading...

May Peace Prevail on Earth

The Peace Pole Project started in Japan in 1955 by Masahisa Goi, who decided to dedicate his life to spreading the message, “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in response to the bombings on Hiroshima. Peace Poles are handcrafted monuments erected the world over as international symbols of Peace. Their purpose is to spread the message “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in a different language, one on each side.

Peace begins in the heart and mind of each individual. As war begins with thoughts of war, Peace begins with thoughts of Peace. The Peace Pole reminds us to keep Peace ever-present in our thoughts. As we learn to honor one another, our environment, plants, animals and all creation on Earth, the vision of global Peace will gradually become a natural way of life, a true culture of Peace.



From the Peace Poles Website: http://www.peacepoles.com/

Susan Muir in the photograph, at the Center for Spiritual Living, Santa Rosa

Continue Reading...

Join Jeffrey Kahane for dinner and music

Global Heart Vision: We see a world which has renewed its emphasis on beauty, nature and love through a resurgence of creativity, art, and aesthetics

http://www.santarosasymphony.com/index_gala.asp

Friday October 9, 2009 - Dinner, entertainment, auction and dancing - 6:00 p.m. Santa Rosa Gold and Country Club. Black Tie. Wine reception and no-host cocktail bar.

An elegant fundraising experience featiuring Jeffrey Kahane on piano. Doug Morton and Orient Express close the evening with mesmerizing Russian Gypsy music as well as sweing and ballroom dance tunes. Wear your dancing shoes! Click the link for purchase information.

Continue Reading...

A Prayer from Dr. Joyce Duffala

There is One Power, One Presence, One Mind, One Love, guarding, guiding, holding, sustaining and in fact being all.

This one expresses through me now and eternally. It has been fully present in all my activities this day, and continues to be fully present with and as me this evening and beyond.

So I rest assured that what happened today was good. Whether I consider something complete or not, in Truth it is happening in perfect time in Spirit. So I rest easily now, knowing that indeed all is in God’s hands. I turn over any questions or concerns, knowing that their resolution is even now being worked on by the One Mind, and I will know that resolution when it is the right time. I give thanks for this day in which many have been blessed and healed through my individual actions and the collective activity of all involved in the United Centers for Spiritual Living. I give thanks for the way I have been blessed and healed this day.

It is with gratitude for this sense of fulfillment and peace that steals over me as I realize that “All is well. All is well. And all shall be well.”

And with a grateful heart for what has been and what is yet to come, I release this word, gently, softly and completely. And so it is.


Joyce Duffala

Continue Reading...

Chelsea Morning

I love Joni Mitchell - I played her album Blue until it was unplayable. Oh, remember when we had to carry albums around?

Articles mentioning Joni Mitchell click here

Continue Reading...

Kuan Yin

Kuan Yin (also spelled Kwan Yin or Quan Yin and known as Kuan Shih Yin), is the Goddess of Compassion. She is one of the most popular deities and her name in Chinese means "One who Hears the Cries of the World". She represents merciful tenderness, compassion, loving kindness, and wisdom, among other things. In Asia, statues of Kuan Yin can be found in front of, or on the grounds of, many Buddhist temples.

Do you know where the temple in this photo is located?

Continue Reading...

Bamboo

Did you know there is a whole society in America dedicated to bamboo? Who knew? It started in 1979 and boasts 1,400 members in 38 countries and disseminates information about the use, care and propagation of bamboo.

When I was in Costa Rica floating down a river, one of the non-indigenous invasive plants that actually has success there is Chinese Bamboo. Most other plants cant handle the weather and rain, but that bamboo - yikes - it was growing wild, strong and powerful on the banks of the river.

Here is a link to the American Bamboo Society in case you want to find out more about careing for your bamboo.

http://www.americanbamboo.org/TOC.html

Continue Reading...

At The Center

Pierrette and I having a good ol’ smile.

Continue Reading...

The Awakened-Self Fellowship Video Night

Tuesday August 18th
We meet monthly on the third Tuesday to view films of non-dual teachers.
This month’s showing:
Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
I AM THAT I AM
Narrated by Stephen Wolinsky, direct disciple,
psychotherapist and author
Nisargardatta is considered by many, along with Ramana Maharshi, to be the strongest voice of Advaita Vedanta to appear in the 20th century.
The DVD includes experiential meditations.
Three segments totaling 2 hours
Time: Please come at 7 pm. We will sit quietly at 7:15
and begin the video at 7:30.
Facilitator: Fred Oettinger
Hostess: Kris Nevius
8916 Graton Rd at Brush Rd, Graton, 829-1087

Continue Reading...

Musical Sevite

http://picasaweb.google.com/edward.viljoen/MusicSeviteParty#

Selfless Service is a commonly used term to denote a service which is performed without any expectation of result or award for the person performing it. It is also sometimes used to denote a service performed with no apparent 'earthly' result, but which may accrue results in a spiritual or heavenly realm after death, although in the pure sense of the term that would not qualify as a strictly 'selfless' action. (wikipedia)

Each week sevites contribute to the music ministry at the Center for Spiritual Living under the direction of Music Director Christopher Fritzsche (above) here thanking his volunteers at the recognition part hosted by Reed and Laura.

Continue Reading...

Subway Symphonies and Sideways Glances

Let the beauty you love be what you do. There are a thousand ways tokneel and kiss the earth.

Rumi

(From Molly E.)

Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. Duringthat time approx. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and thenhurried to meet his

schedule.4 minutes later: the violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk. 6 minutes: A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked athis watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes: A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushedhard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent,without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.

45 minutes: The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at theirnormal pace.

The man collected a total of $32.

1 hour: He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of thegreatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Twodays before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a socialexperiment about perception, taste and people's priorities. The questions raised: in a common place environment at an inappropriatehour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do werecognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the bestmusicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written,with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made.... How many other things are we missing?

Continue Reading...

Hiroshima, Then and Now

Hiroshima was proclaimed a City of Peace by the Japanese parliament in 1949, at the initiative of its mayor, Shinzo Hamai (1905–1968). As a result, the city of Hiroshima received more international attention as a desirable location for holding international conferences on peace as well as social issues. As part of that effort, the Hiroshima Interpreters' and Guide's Association (HIGA) was established in 1992 in order to facilitate translation services for conferences, and the Hiroshima Peace Institute was established in 1998 within the Hiroshima University. The city government continues to advocate the abolition of all nuclear weapons and the Mayor of Hiroshima is the President of Mayors for Peace, an international Mayoral organization mobilizing cities and citizens worldwide to abolish and eliminate nuclear weapons by the year 2020 Mayors for Peace 2020 Vision Campaign. (Wikipedia)

(thank you Jacqui B)

Continue Reading...

Devotion

“Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exists, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.”Francis

P. Church

“Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.” Is the opening phrase of one of the most famous editorials written for The New York Sun answering a 8 year-old’s question Is there a Santa Clause. The editorial served then as it does today as a reminder that the real and enduring things in the world are those that we cannot necessarily see, but which we experience.

Devotion is something that we cannot see, but experience the results of. It is a practice of ardently, often selflessly, giving time and attention to a person or a principle. If in your daily routine you give attention to a pet or a plant or a person, over time a natural love will arise for the object of your attention.

If you apply the same practice of giving attention in your daily routine to the Presence, in whatever way that makes sense to you, over time a natural love will arise that is called devotion. And it does exist.

Continue Reading...

Awe

“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day. Never lose a holy curiosity.”

Albert Einstein

Awe is an attitude of mind that allows us to see things differently. It includes appreciation for detail, beauty and significance. It is the feeling of reverence or admiration that comes from witnessing something grand like a canyon, sublime like a dance, or powerful like a thunderstorm. You can practice awe by taking time to truly look at something and list all its qualities. Take something that is in your personal environment right now and really look at it and attempt to describe it to someone who is not present. How would you convey every detail of the object as well as the feelings you have when you touch it or see it?

Continue Reading...

The Twitter Metaphor

Being aware as I am that many people Twitter spiritual reminders (as yet I am not one of them), I have been struck by how much this experience reminds me of the practice of meditation.

In meditation, we start out with a focus –our breath, the word love, or I AM, and from there we go into the Place within where we find our True Self. Always, in the midst of this practice, the ego begins to tug at our attention: "nose itching", "forgot to call dentist", "boring", "what time does this end?", "knee hurts".

And so on. Our practice, of course, is to brush these thoughts aside, to observe them floating through and keep returning our attention to the breath, to within, to now.

And so it is in Twitterland. We post a reminder "All is One" or read another's reminder "Go Within" and in that moment our mind expands into the infinitely wider Self that underpins our local identity, our ego. Then! come the marketing tweets, the "Make $100,000 at home" tweets, the "Here's what I have for sale" tweets.

There's nothing wrong with these Tweets – they are the same flow of thoughts that stream endlessly through all of our minds. But if we happen to be thirsty for a drink of Peace, we have to temporarily brush our egotweets away, just as we do in meditation. Return to the breath, to the "I AM", to the reminders of our True Self.

So at Twitter, just as in real life, we are offered a feast: idle thoughts, distracting thoughts, worry thoughts, exciting thoughts, silly thoughts, doubt thoughts, empowering thoughts, divine thoughts. And, just as in real life, we get to choose where we place our attention.

Suzanne Sackett

Continue Reading...

Broadening horizons

“The problems of the world cannot possibly be solved by skeptics or cynics whose horizons are limited by the obvious realities. We need men who can dream of things that never were.”

John Fitzgerald Kennedy

To practice being aware of the Presence of Divinity calls us to look beyond what is obvious, normal and routine. To do so try imagining what it might be like to be born into a different culture or in a different age. How would your beliefs differ from those you have today?

What would your life be like if you were a different gender and what do you think would be the advantages and disadvantages? Try to imagine also how your current beliefs about the world may be limited. Is there some way you can broaden your horizons today?

Continue Reading...

More from Balboa

The view of the Botanical Building with the Lily Pond in the foreground is one of the most photographed scenes in Balboa Park and a "must-see" destination in San Diego. Built for the 1915-16 Exposition, along with the adjacent Lily Pond, the historic building is one of the largest lath structures in the world. The Botanical Building plantings include more than 2,100 permanent plants, featuring fascinating collections of cycads, ferns, orchids, other tropical plants, and palms. The Botanical Building also presents some of the Park's vibrant seasonal flower displays.













More from San Diego Here

Continue Reading...